Railroad-track clearer



(No Model.)

G. J. KINZEL.;` RAILROAD TRACK G'LRARRR. No. 297,607.4 PatntedApr. 9,

WITNESSES v 00 www f Ytorney 'UNITED STATES PATENT (")iurrcno GEORGE J. KINZEL, OE KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

RAI LROAD-TRACK CLEARER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,607, dated April 29, 1884.

' Application lcd October `24, 1883.\ (No model.)

To all whom it may concer-7c: Y

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. KINZEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Track Glearers; and. I do l prove and simplify the devices whereby the track may be cleared at a veryrapid rate compared with the means heretofore in use.

The invention consists in adevice or means substantially as shown in the drawing (which is a view in perspective thereof) and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which represents a perspective view of the device connected to the rear end of a railroad-truck, A denotes the car-truck, to which is connected a suitable derrick,B. This derrick, although it may be of any suitable form and sufficiently long to extend over and beyond the rear end of the car-truck, consists, preferably, of two masts or beams bound at their lower ends by metal stirrups to prevent them from splitting, and are fastened to suitable standards, a, by bolt b, said bolt passing through ,the three standards and the masts or beams constitutingpthe derrick. The standards a are bound by metal straps, and extend up from a crossbeam, c, said beam being bolted to a crosstimber under the floor of the car or car-truck. The two masts or beamsforming the derrick are connected together at their upper ends by a transverse stay, d, said stay having secured to it an eyebolt, from which suspends a ring, e, for connecting thereto the hook of a pulleybleock, f, a second pulley-block, g, being se-r cured by similar means to a mud or earth scoop, C, A rope, h, is connected to the pulley-block g, and extends around both pulleyblocks, as shown, and passes forward between the masts or beams of the'derrick to a suitable windlass, D, around which the rope is wound.

draw-bars E and coupling-chainsn.

This windlass D may be of any of the ordinary forms, and I prefer to operate itv by the two gear-wheels t' 7c, the former being connected to the windlass, while the latter wheel is considerably smaller and in the form of a pinion, and is secured on a crank-handle shaft, Z.

Near the rear en d of the car-truck is fastened and braced a trestle, m, which supports the masts or beams of the derrick. u,

The scoopV C at its front or inner end is connected to the rear end of the car by rods or These chains u, which are fastened to the draw-bars E, engage with hooks p at the end of the cartruck, while the opposite ends of the drawbars are connected to eyebolts upon the scoop C, the several links composing the chains enabling the links to be coupled on the -car at any desired length. 7o

The mud or earth scoop D may be constructed in any suitable manner, but preferably composed of wood bolted together, the inside of the scoop being lined with sheet metal. At the lower front edge'of the scoop D is a 75 round iron slide .bar, F, extending the entire width of the scoop, and is adapted to slide is backed up as far as the land-slide will admit, 8 5

after which the scoop is loweredby the windlass and rope until the point -or front edge of scoop is bearing on the land-slide. The windlass or elevating-power is now thrown out of gear, and at the same time the car-truck,with 9o scoop`,will be caused to move forward by the locomotive. By this means the point or front edge of the scoop will penetrate the slide on an angle until it strikes the track-rail,when it will slide thereon in a horizontal or nearly hori- Zontal position, and when nearing the place for unloading the elevating-power will be applied, and the rear end of the yscoop raised until the contents slipto the front thereof on the center of the track, and at the same time the 10c locomotive, continuing to movethe scoop slowly along, and the contents, being usually very wet and slushy, will, by the point or front edge thereof still resting on the rails, force the contents either into the side ditches or down the embankments, thereby leaving the track clear. After this operation, the scoop is raised to the proper height and ready for another load and trip to the slide.

It should be understood that the scoop is not raised or elevated with its load until it is taken to the place for unloading, and thetwo drawbars are required to be rigid, so as to keep or retain the scoop iu position, where a continuous chain would be inadequate for the purpose. In ease the scoop is overloaded or fastened in the rocks, and the locomotive has not sufiieient power to pull the scoop, then the draw-bars are used to push the scoop back sufficiently that bythe aid of the elevatingpower the scoop can be raised from its fastened position.

It will be noticed thatthe scoop is perfectly flat upon its under side, to adapt it to the purpose intended, and the general forni of the scoop also renders it very effective when in use.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with a car or ear-truck provided with a suitable derrick and Windlass, of a scoop substantially of the form shown, and having its under side flat, and aslide-bar connected to its front edge, said scoop being suspended from the derrick by rope and pulley and connected to the ear or eartruek by draw-bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the' presence of two Witnesses.

GEO. 'J'. KIN ZEL.

Vitnesses:

JOHN E. CALDWELL, WM. T. H. MCEWEN. 

